John c



(No Model.)

1.0. GIBBS. LIGHTER FOR LOADING'VESSBLS. No. 275,479. l -Patenea Apr. 10,1883.

WMA u WM U NITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNC. GIBBS, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK.

LIGHTER `FOR LOADING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION-.forming part of Letters Yatent No. 275,479, dated April 10, 1883.

Application filed October 10, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known thatl, JOHN C. GIBBS, ofBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new andusefulImprovement in Lighters for Loading Vessels, Svc.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part ot' this specification.

VMyinvention relates to a lighter constructed with elevated bins or bunkers adapted to deliver coal, grain, &c., directly into Steamers and other vessels, or upon wha-rves, dto., without,

shoveling or the necessity of using elevating devices, as is now the common practice.

It consists in an improved form of adjustable runway and chute to be used in combination with the elevated bins to facilitate the automatic delivery of the contents thereof by gravity.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the coaling of steamerS, tugs, or other vessels, and the delivery of grain thereto in a more simple, direct, and rapid manner than has heretofore been the case.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved elevated lighter; Fig. 2, an end view thereof, partly in sec-- view, illustrating the adj ustability ofthe chute and of the spout combined therewith. y

A represents the hull of a scow, made broad and wide to ai'ord proper buoyant support for the superstructure, and of sufficient depth to give it due steadiness, and to carry the ballast required to balance the top load and maintain the center of gravity of the completed structure at a sufliciently low point to counterbalance the upper bin or box when loaded.

B B represent a trestle-work built upon the deck or frame of the scow or floating hull "A, of a height sufficient to carry its upper beams well above the coal-chutes of Steamers or the loading-ports of vessels as usually arranged.

C is an extended box or bin, built upon the top of the trestlework .B B, to receive and store the coal or grain or other material capable of being discharged by its own gravity. The width and the length of this elevated freight bin or box C is so far less than that of the floating hull-A, by which it is supported, that the hull affords a constant wide base therefor and the center ot' gravity of the structure is kept well within said base under large variations in the loading of the bin. The elevation of its bottom above the piers and wharves, and the ships, Steamers, Snc., to be loaded therefrom, is sniticiently great to permit the load thereon to slide freely therefrom by its own weight down suitable chutes or inclined ways provided for the purpose. This bin or box may-be divided into a series of separate compartments or bunkers, if found desirable.

D represents an improved form of adjustable chute, adapted for use with this elevated lighter. On either side of au opening cut out transversely in theV bottom of the bin from near its center outwardly to its side, side boards, e e, are secured to depend under the bin. A bottom board,f, is hinged at its inner end to the bottoni of the bin, to swing between the side boards, e e, ot' the chute, said bottom board being so adjusted in length as that when drawn up into a horizontal position it will entirely close the chute-opening. When the board is dropped from the horizontal, a gate, h, moving up and down in suitable ways upon the inner side of the bin, may be dropped down at the outer end of the chute opening to close the front thereof. To the outer end of the swinging bottom board,f, aspout, t', is hinged. When the outer board is raised, the spout depends between the ends of the chute, which will thus serve to close the lateral openings at its point 'of connection with the bottom board, f. The

opening left between the top of the spout and lower end of the gate h, caused by the inclina- 1 tion of the spout, is closed by a slide, j. The bottom f of the chute is adjusted and supported at any suitable inclination by means of a chain and windlass, and the spoutzislikewise raised and lowered bya similar appliance. The gate h is raised and lowered by a wheel and screw. The bottom of the chute may thus be inclined at any desired an gle,for delivery overboard or into carts or cars upon the deck of the scow, and the spout in which the chute terminates may also be adjusted independently to any angle required for the proper delivery of the coal or grain from the bin in any direction.

ICO

When the spout is notin use it may depend vertically under the side of the bin, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The bottom of the bin is so constructed as to facilitate the movement of its contents toward one or the other ofthe chutes, a suitable number of chutes being arranged, either on each side, or, if preferred, all on one side, to permit the entire bin to be unloaded without necessity of shoveling the load. i

'Ihe bin of the lighter, constructed as described, may be readily filled with coal from elevated railroad dumps or tracks extended out from a pier, alongside of which the lighter is moved to receive its load, or with grain from an elevator similarly locatcd at the waters edge. Being' loadcd,the lighter may be towed alongside of the steamer or ship, either when at its pier or anchored in the stream, and as both the lighter and ship are aoat the relative height ofthe lighters elevated bin to the deck of the vessel will not be changed by the state of the tide, and will vary only as the draft of the one and the other is altered by the loading thereofvariations which are readily niet by an adjustment of the chutes and spouts. The lighter may, when loaded, be anchored or moored to a pier at a convenient point for coaling tug-boats (which will run alongside for thc purpose and take in coal independently of the state of the tide, which often renders the loading from a wharf or pier a difficult matter) or to admit of carts being driven on board to receive their load from the bin above to be delivered onshore. As the lighter is both loaded and its load discharged by gravity, the work is accomplished with rapidity and great economy in handling, and the use of the expensive elevators or ot' a gang of men, as in the methods now pursued, is obviated thereby.

In order to thoroughly clean the coal as itis delivered, the bottom fof each chute may be fitted with a screen, and the dust and dirt separated from the coal and dropped from tbe screen may be collected upon the lower deck, to be afterward dumped upon a suitable dumping-ground.

I do not herein claim an improved scow constructed as described in Patent No. 110,130, with a series of compartments supported upon columns above thc spar-deck; but

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, with an elevated floating bin or compartment, C, of an adjustable chute, D, constructed of a bottom board,f, hinged at its inner end to the bottom ofthe bin to swing down between side boards, c c, dependent from the bin and provided with a vertically-slidinggate, h, adapted to close the outer opening between the two side boards, e c, and the outer end of the bottom board,f, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. rIhe combination, with the bottom board,

j', of the chute D, of an adjustable spout, fi,

hinged to the outer end of said board and governed by the gate h, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specitication in t-he presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

